Triboelectric generator

Abstract

A generator includes a thin first contact charging layer and a thin second contact charging layer. The thin first contact charging layer includes a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series. The thin first contact charging layer has a first side with a first conductive electrode applied thereto and an opposite second side. The thin second contact charging layer includes a second material that has a second rating on a triboelectric series that is more negative than the first rating. The thin first contact charging layer has a first side with a first conductive electrode applied thereto and an opposite second side. The thin second contact charging layer is disposed adjacent to the first contact charging layer so that the second side of the second contact charging layer is in contact with the second side of the first contact charging layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A generator, comprising:
 (a) a thin first contact charging layer including a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series, the thin first contact charging layer having a first side with a first conductive electrode layer applied thereto and an opposite second side; 
 (b) a thin second contact charging layer including a second material that has a second rating on a triboelectric series that is more negative than the first rating, the thin second contact charging layer having a first side with a second conductive electrode layer applied thereto and an opposite second side, the thin second contact charging layer disposed adjacent to the first contact charging layer so that the second side of the second contact charging layer is in contact with the second side of the first contact charging layer; and 
 (c) a plurality of spaced apart shapes, each having a maximum length of 10 μm, extending outwardly from at least a selected one of the second side of the first contact charging layer and the second side of the second contact charging layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact charging layer comprises a material selected from a list consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate, poly(methyl methacrylate), a conductor, a metal, an alloy and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the second contact charging layer comprises a material selected from a list consisting of: poly-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide, polydimethylsiloxane, a conductor, a metal, an alloy and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive electrode layer and the second conductive electrode layer each comprise a material selected from a list consisting of: gold, silver, aluminum, a metal, indium tin oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart shapes includes a molded texture. 
     
     
       6. The generator of  claim 5 , wherein the molded texture comprises a texture that includes a plurality of evenly spaced shapes selected from a list consisting of: pyramids, rectangular prisms, rows and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart shapes includes a plurality of elongated vertically aligned nanowires extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       8. A triboelectric generator, comprising:
 (a) a first conductive electrode layer; 
 (b) a first contact charging layer having a first side and an opposite second side, the first conductive electrode layer disposed on the first side of the first contact charging layer, the first contact charging layer including a first material that has a first rating on a triboelectric series, the first contact charging layer having a thickness sufficiently thin so that a positive excess charge on the second side of the first contact charging layer induces an electric field that induces negative charge carriers to form in the first conductive electrode layer; 
 (c) a second conductive electrode layer, 
 (d) a second contact charging layer having a first side and an opposite second side, the second conductive electrode layer disposed on the first side of the second contact charging layer, the second contact charging layer including a second material that has a second rating on the triboelectric series wherein the second rating is more negative than the first rating, the second side of the second contact charging layer being disposed against the second side of the first contact charging layer, the second contact charging layer having a thickness sufficiently thin so that a negative excess charge on the second side of the second contact charging layer induces an electric field that induces positive charge carriers to form in the second conductive electrode layer; and 
 (e) a plurality of spaced apart shapes, each having a maximum length of 10 μm, extending outwardly from at least a selected one of the second side of the first contact charging layer and the second side of the second contact charging layer, wherein relative movement between contacting portions of the second side of the first contact charging layer and the second side of the second contact charging layer results in excess positive charge on the second side of the first contact charging layer and excess negative charge on the second side of the second contact charging layer. 
 
     
     
       9. The triboelectric generator of  claim 8 , wherein the first contact charging layer comprises a material selected from a list consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate, poly(methyl methacrylate), a conductor, a metal, an alloy and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The triboelectric generator of  claim 8 , wherein the second contact charging layer comprises a material selected from a list consisting of: poly-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide, polydimethylsiloxane, a conductor, a metal, an alloy and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       11. The triboelectric generator of  claim 8 , wherein the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode each comprise a material selected from a list consisting of: gold, silver, aluminum, a metal, indium tin oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. The triboelectric generator of  claim 8 , wherein-the plurality of spaced apart shapes includes a molded texture including a plurality of evenly spaced shapes selected from a list consisting of: pyramids, rectangular prisms, rows and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The triboelectric generator of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart shapes includes a plurality of elongated vertically aligned nanowires extending outwardly therefrom.